The Robert W Wilson Charitable Trust
The Robert W Wilson Charitable Trust is a private independent foundation based in New York City, NY. Established in 2003, it is the successor organization to the Robert W. Wilson Foundation, Inc. The trust operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$181.8M
-8.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$26.2M
+116.1% YoY
Grant Count
82
+3.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$319K
+108.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert W Wilson Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $9.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust gives primarily for:
- Art museums
- Civil rights associations
- Historic preservation and historical societies
- Environmental conservation and protection
The organization maintains a broad philanthropic scope, supporting diverse initiatives across multiple subject areas and U.S. locations.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$657
Average Grant
$657
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
- New York
- California
- Florida
- Massachusetts
- North Carolina
- Boston
- Washington, D.C.
Additional states with funding activity include Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $199.5 million (2023)
- Total assets: $181,794,448 (alternate recent filing)
- Total revenue: $16.2 million (2023)
- Total expenses: $14.2 million (2023)
- Asset growth: +2.6% from previous year
Contact Information:
- Telephone: 212-840-3456
- Address: R Schneidman Tte Anchin 3 Times, New York City, NY 10036
- EIN: 51-6536168
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $181,794,448 | $199,455,244 | $191,912,333 |
| Revenue | $32,548,343 | $16,248,141 | $6,256,282 |
| Expenses | $28,700,737 | $14,168,431 | $16,125,838 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $27,212,396 | $13,046,269 | $14,805,714 |
| Net Investment Income | $31,643,151 | $15,213,072 | $5,131,621 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,950,904 | $9,333,883 | $10,078,652 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Central Park Conservancy ($2,600,000), Environmental Defense Fund ($1,819,484), Metropolitan Opera ($1,250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 54 BELOW INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $335,001 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY THE PLAINS, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $280,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| AMHERST COLLEGE AMHERST, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200 |
| BEDFORD PLAYHOUSE BEDFORD, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BONE MARROW CANCER FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BOTTOMLESS CLOSET NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BRIDGE FUND OF NY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Richard Schneidman - Trustee
- Robert Feidelson - Trustee
- Eric Weitz - Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD SCHNEIDMAN | TRUSTEE | 36 | $749,828 |
| ROBERT FEIDELSON | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | $20,000 |
| ERIC WEITZ | TRUSTEE | 1.5 | $20,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The trust has launched several matching grant opportunities and challenge grants in recent years:
54 Below Launches $300,000 Challenge Grant From the Robert W. Wilson Charitable**National Trust for Historic Preservation Match:** The trust provided a matching grant opportunity through Saving Places
New Match Opportunity through the Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust**54 Below Challenge Grant:** Launched a $300,000 challenge grant to support the performing arts venue
54 Below Launches $300,000 Challenge Grant From the Robert W. Wilson Charitable**MCC Theater Matching Challenge:** Provided support for a $25 million matching challenge to fund MCC Theater's first permanent home
MCC Theater Launches Matching Challenge to Fund First ...These initiatives demonstrate the trust's active engagement in supporting arts and cultural institutions, particularly in the performing arts and historic preservation sectors.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Robert W Wilson Charitable Trust fund?
The trust gives primarily for: • Art museums • Civil rights associations • Historic preservation and historical societies • Environmental conservation and protection The organization maintains a broad philanthropic scope, supporting diverse initiatives across multiple subject areas and U.S. locations.
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert W Wilson Charitable Trust?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $26,193,961 (most recent year) • Total awards in previous year: $12.1 million across 14,524 grants • Average grant size: $657 • Typical award range: $200–$8,655,718 • Open to new applicants: Yes • Percentage of new applicants funded: 12% **Funding Focus Areas:** • Grants for science teachers • Arts access and participation grants • Education grants • Historic preservation grants
Where does The Robert W Wilson Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: • New York • California • Florida • Massachusetts • North Carolina • Boston • Washington, D.C. Additional states with funding activity include Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia.
What size grants does The Robert W Wilson Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, The Robert W Wilson Charitable Trust awarded 82 grants totaling $26.2M — an average of about $319K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Robert W Wilson Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Robert W Wilson Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $9.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Robert W Wilson Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Robert W Wilson Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-6536168. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Robert W Wilson Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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